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How much house can you buy before you sell?

Reviewed by Gaetano Ciambriello, NMLS #1783508 · Updated September 2026

Enter your home's value, what you owe and the price of your next home. The calculator shows how much bridge loan your equity supports (70% of value as our standard, up to 80% case by case, minus what you owe) and the full cost at AFC's published pricing: 2.5% origination, 1% per month interest and $3,250 in flat fees, all paid at payoff (about 15.8% APR on a 12-month example).

Bridge loan calculator

Move the sliders or type your numbers. Everything updates using AFC's published bridge pricing.

A recent estimate or your agent's pricing opinion is fine.
Include any HELOC balance on the home.
Use the top of your range.
20% avoids mortgage insurance on a conventional loan.
The bridge term is 12 months. Interest and fees are paid at payoff.
Your bridge loan
$0
Equity today
Bridge available (70%)
Cash needed
Cash still needed
Total bridge cost
Origination (2.5%)
Interest (1% per month, paid at payoff)
Attorney, processing and wire (flat)
Total
1% per month is about 15.8% APR on a 12-month example ($250,000 loan). See Representative APR below.
Have a loan officer review this

Same money from a HELOC: side by side

Enter the rate and closing costs from a real HELOC quote. The 8.5% below is only a placeholder assumption, not a quote from AFC or anyone else. HELOC interest is figured interest-only on the same amount for the same months.

AFC bridge loan

No monthly payment. Interest and fees settled at payoff. Can be opened after you list.

HELOC, same amount

A HELOC usually costs less if you can open it before you list and carry the payment. Most HELOC lenders won't open a line on a home that is listed or under contract, and the monthly payment counts against you on the new mortgage.

How we calculate this

Bridge available = 70% of your home's value minus what you owe, never below zero. That is our standard; up to 80% is possible case by case, and the line under your result shows that amount. Cash needed = your down payment plus an estimated 3% of the price for closing costs. Your bridge is the smaller of the two. Cost uses AFC's published pricing: 2.5% origination, 1% per month interest and $3,250 flat fees, all paid at payoff.

Estimate, not a Loan Estimate

This is an illustration, not an approval, a rate lock or a Loan Estimate. Your loan officer confirms value, title and your purchase mortgage before anything is final. Interest is 1% per month, and a partial month is charged as a full month.

Representative APR

A $250,000 bridge loan held 12 months: $6,250 origination plus $3,250 in fees, $30,000 interest, $39,500 total cost of credit, all paid at payoff, about 15.8% APR. No prepayment penalty and no minimum interest. AFC Mortgage Group, NMLS #2801. Equal Housing Lender.

Send me this scenario, or have a loan officer review it

Your calculator numbers travel with the request, so our team starts from your scenario instead of a blank form. No obligation and no credit pull to see your options. Prefer to talk? Call (203) 452-9899.

Bridge loan calculator: frequently asked questions

How much can I borrow with a bridge loan?

Our standard is 70% of your current home's value, minus what you still owe on it, and up to 80% case by case. On a $650,000 home with a $240,000 mortgage, that is $215,000 at 70% and up to $280,000 at 80%. AFC bridge loans to date have ranged from $40,000 to $1.375 million. The calculator above shows both.

Do I make monthly payments on the bridge loan?

No. Interest is 1% per month and is paid at payoff, when your current home sells, together with the loan balance and fees. A partial month is charged as a full month. There is no prepayment penalty and no minimum interest, so paying off early costs less.

What if my home takes longer to sell?

The bridge term is 12 months. Each extra month adds 1% of the loan amount in interest, which the calculator shows as the cost of each extra month. On AFC buy-before-you-sell bridges, the median time from funding to payoff has been 59 days.

Is a bridge loan cheaper than a HELOC?

Usually not in raw dollars. A HELOC typically carries a lower rate, so for the same amount and months it often costs less. The trade-offs: most HELOC lenders will not open a line on a home that is listed or under contract, and the monthly HELOC payment counts against you on the new mortgage. Enter a real HELOC quote in the comparison above to see both totals.

Does AFC fund owner-occupied bridge loans?

Yes. Most Connecticut bridge lenders you'll find are investor-only. AFC funds owner-occupied bridge loans from its own fund, and has funded 99 bridge loans since 2024. The loan is secured by real estate, typically your current home, and is paid off from its sale.

Bridge Loan Disclosures: AFC Mortgage Group, LLC

AFC Mortgage Group, LLC offers short-term bridge loans secured by a recorded lien on real estate (your current home, the new property, or both). These are secured real-estate loans, not unsecured personal or consumer loans.

No Prepayment Penalty & No Minimum Interest

There is no prepayment penalty and no minimum interest. Interest is charged by the month for the months your loan is outstanding, and a partial month is charged as a full month. Pay it off early and you pay only for the months you used.

Representative Example

A bridge loan of $250,000 with a 12-month term: interest accrues at 1% per month (12% annually) and is paid at payoff rather than monthly; a 2.5% origination fee ($6,250) plus approximately $3,250 in attorney, processing, and wire fees are also paid at payoff, not at closing. Held the full 12 months, that equals an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of approximately 15.8%: total interest of $30,000 and total cost of credit of approximately $39,500, plus repayment of the $250,000 principal at maturity (balloon). Because there is no prepayment penalty or minimum interest, paying off earlier costs less: e.g., a payoff at 6 months accrues roughly $15,000 in interest instead of $30,000.

Most bridge loans are paid off within a few months: on the same $250,000 loan paid off at 3 months, total interest is approximately $7,500, for a total cost of credit of roughly $17,000 (the $6,250 origination and $3,250 in fees are unchanged), less than half the full-term figure. The approximately 15.8% APR above is calculated on the required 12-month basis; your actual cost depends on how long the loan remains outstanding.

Terms at a Glance

AFC Mortgage Group, LLC. Licensed mortgage lender. NMLS #2801, licensed in CT, MA, RI, NH, VT, NJ and 11 other states. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rates, terms, and fees are examples only and vary by loan size, LTV, credit, and market conditions. Not a commitment to lend; all loans subject to credit and collateral approval.